WEBVTT ANY LOSS OF LIFE IS TRAGICABOUT THAT NOW THIS FAMILY ANDFRIENDS ARE DEALING WITH LOSS OFA 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL.THIS IS A MEMORIAL THAT THEYHAVE PUT UP IN THE FRONT YARDOF THE HOUSE WHERE THE YOUNGGIRL LOST HER LIFE.FIRE BROKE OUT JUST AFTERMIDNIGHT.SHE WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THEHOUSE, HER MOTHER AND STEPFATHERDID ESCAPE.ONE DEPUTY TRIED GOING INTO THEHOME TO RESCUE THE YOUNG GIRUNFORTUNATELY THE SMOKE AND THEFIRE WERE TOO STRONG.EARLIER THIS EVENING, HERFRIENDS STARTED TO COME TO THEHOME TO BUILD A SMALL MEMORIALAND BEGIN THE PROCESS OF HEALINGAND MORNING --MOURNING.SHE WAS A YOUNG GIRL WHO WASVERY ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.ONE OF HER FRIENDS DESCRIBES HOWWHICH WAS WHEN SHE HEARD THENEWS.>> SHE IS NOT WITH US ANYMORE.I ASKED WHAT Y MEAN, AND SHESAID SHE PASSED AWAY IN A HOUSEFIRE.I SA YOU ARE LYING.SHE SAID I AM FOR REAL, AND ILOST IT.>> THERE ARE AT LEAST SIX ORSEVEN YOUNG LADIES OUT HEREGRIEVING FOR THEIR FRIEND.

Emergency crews were called at 12:15 a.m. to the 17000 block of East 278th Street.

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Authorities were were notified of a possible trapped person inside the house. A Cass County deputy, who was first on the scene, tried to get into the house, but was driven back by the heat and smoke, the Sheriff's Office said.

Fire crews found the girl dead inside the home shortly after arriving. She was identified as Saylor Johnson.

The teen's mother and stepfather were taken to hospitals for treatment.

One deputy was treated for smoke inhalation.

Investigators said they do not believe the fire is suspicious, but the exact cause of the fire has not been released.